Power conditioning system co-located with a print head for reducing noise, power dissipation, and/or overheating

Abstract

The present invention provides an assembly that includes a print head and a power conditioning circuit in a common frame. The co-location of the print head and power conditioning circuit in the frame alleviates added signal noise and power dissipation. Further, it allows for efficient temperature regulation of the two print head and power conditioning circuit.

1 . A print head assembly comprising: 
 a frame defining a cavity having sides and at least one of a top or bottom surface;    an opening in a surface of said frame;    at least a print head located in the cavity of said frame; and    a temperature regulator in communication with said opening for regulating the temperature in said cavity.    
   
   
       2 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame is at least partially located in a printer enclosure, wherein the cavity of said frame is at least partially isolated from the printer enclosure.  
   
   
       3 . An assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said frame is at least partially located in a printer enclosure, wherein the cavity of said frame is at least partially isolated from the printer enclosure such that air located in the cavity of said frame is not capable of entering the printer enclosure.  
   
   
       4 . An assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising a power conditioning circuit located in the cavity of said frame and connected to said print head.  
   
   
       5 . A printer assembly comprising: 
 a housing;    a print head assembly located in said housing, said print head assembly comprising: 
 a frame defining a cavity having sides and at least one of a top or bottom surface;  
 an opening in a surface of said frame;  
 at least a print head located in the cavity of said frame;  
   a temperature regulator in communication with said opening for regulating the temperature in said cavity,    wherein the cavity of said frame is at least partially isolated from the printer enclosure such that air located in the cavity of said frame is not capable of entering the printer enclosure.    
   
   
       6 . An assembly for providing conditioned power to a printer, comprising: 
 a frame;    an electrical component coupled to said frame, said component requiring conditioned power; and    a power conditioning circuit coupled to said frame and to said electrical component for providing conditioned power to said component.    
   
   
       7 . An assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said electrical component is a print head.  
   
   
       8 . An assembly according to  claim 6  further comprising an electrical connector associated with each of said power conditioning circuit and said electrical component, wherein said connectors are space apart between 0 to 5 inches.  
   
   
       9 . An assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said power conditioning circuit and said electrical component are integrated into one component.  
   
   
       10 . An assembly according to  claim 6  further comprising a temperature regulator.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said temperature regulator is one of a heat sink, heater, fan, and cooler.  
   
   
       12 . An assembly according to  claim 6  further comprising an electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said power conditioning circuit and said electrical component, the electrical coupling means having a length, the length being the distance that an electrical signal travels via the electrical coupling means between said power conditioning circuit and said electrical component, wherein the length is between 0 and 5 inches.  
   
   
       13 . An assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the length is between 0 and 1 inch.  
   
   
       14 . An assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the assembly is a part of a thermal photo printer.  
   
   
       15 . An assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the frame comprises a cavity having a top side and a bottom side joined by opposing sidewalls, and wherein the electrical component is located in the bottom side and the power conditioning circuit is located on a sidewall adjacent to the electrical component.  
   
   
       16 . A printer comprising: 
 an assembly comprising: 
 a frame;  
 an electrical component coupled to said frame, said component requiring conditioned power; and  
 a power conditioning circuit coupled to said frame and to said electrical component for providing conditioned power to said component; and  
   a temperature regulator located relative to said electrical component and power conditioning circuit.    
   
   
       17 . A printer according to  claim 16 , wherein said electrical component is a print head.  
   
   
       18 . A printer according to  claim 16 , wherein said temperature regulator is one of a heat sink, heater, fan, and cooler.  
   
   
       19 . A printer according to  claim 16  further comprising an electrical coupling means for electrically coupling said power conditioning circuit and said electrical component, the electrical coupling means having a length, the length being the distance that an electrical signal travels via the electrical coupling means between said power conditioning circuit and said electrical component, wherein the length is between 0 and 5 inches.  
   
   
       20 . A printer according to  claim 19 , wherein the length is between 0 and 1 inch.  
   
   
       21 . A printer according to  claim 16 , wherein the printer is a thermal photo printer.  
   
   
       22 . A printer according to  claim 16 , wherein the frame comprises a cavity having a top side and a bottom side joined by opposing sidewalls, and wherein the electrical component is located in the bottom side and the power conditioning circuit is located on a sidewall adjacent to the electrical component.  
   
   
       23 . A printer according to  claim 22 , wherein the temperature regulator is located at the top side of the cavity.  
   
   
       24 . An assembly for use in a printer, comprising: 
 a print head, said print head requiring conditioned power; and    a power conditioning circuit for providing conditioned power to said print head, wherein said power conditioning circuit and said print head are integrated into one component.    
   
   
       25 . An assembly according to  claim 24  further comprising a means for regulating the temperature of the print head and power conditioning circuit component.  
   
   
       26 . An assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein said means for regulating the temperature is one of a heat sink, heater, fan, and cooler.